But such chiller shade upon Lilian's charming nature was reflected from no inert, unamiable self-love.

It was but the consequence of that self-absorption which the habit of revery had fostered.

I cautiously abstained from all allusion to those visionary deceptions, which she had confided to me as the truthful impressions of spirit, if not of sense.

To me any approach to what I termed "superstition" was displeasing; any indulgence of fantasies not within the measured and beaten track of healthful imagination more than displeased me in her,--it alarmed.

I would not by a word encourage her in persuasions which I felt it would be at present premature to reason against, and cruel indeed to ridicule.